Hello from South Carolina USA

[raildata]

Hi All,

I am looking for others interested in N American steam loco rosters and builders lists. I also digitize and preserve most all types of railroad paper from N American roads. This info is rapidly vanishing along with those that used it.

Would like to hear from anyone with similar interests. Steam loco diagram books are of special interest.

Blessings to all!

Allen Stanley
Simpsonville SC USA

[DSY011]

Hello raildata, welcome to the Railway Forum. I'm not very well up on U.S. loco's, Rhodesian Railways is my thing, but I believe that there is no more Garratt's working on the main line now. Although I was a fireman on the railway, I had a very good driver who still liked to work with the shovel, so I was lucky enough to do quite a lot of driving. Still had to clean the fire after a duty though.

[G6 UXU]

Hello Allen and welcome to the forum, enjoy and all the best.

[raildata]

Thank you for the warm welcomes. I hope to open a thread soon re preservation of railroad paper.

Best to all.

Allen

[aussiesteve]

G'day Allen,
There are a couple of good web sites featuring USRR paperwork and manuals.
But, I don't think that very much exists concerning soot belcher specifics.
Diagram books were not common here, except for maintenance.
We did have booklets issued to firemen and drivers providing PREFERRED prep, cleaning, firing and driving practice.
The catechism booklet provided tuition by way of instructions followed by a quiz.
Basically to get the person up to speed for the big safe working and loco working tests.
But, it was generally experience that provided the major tuition.
Get rostered with a good driver and absorb the technique.
And compare the various techniques when with drivers doing things differently.
Steve.

[raildata]

Hi Aussie Steve,

Good to hear from you. I am sure you have many interesting tales from the earlier days. Though 76 I can barely remember even seeing a steam loco in action.

I am trying to preserve what I can from North American RRs everyday paper work and things used everyday. Diagram books were commonplace here. There were also a lot of rule books and training guides as you mentioned. I am also interested in trying to track down the lives of steam locos exported from here around the world.

Thank you again for the welcome. Hope you have a joyous 2022!

Allen

[aussiesteve]

Cooee Allen,
Steam generally ceased here in NSW in 1972.
Soot belchers endured a tad longer in Queensland and a couple of other states.
There were numerous soot belchers imported into Aus from the UK and USA.
Most were exported from the UK, but Baldwin was a major USA exporter to the NSWR.
Baldwin supplied some 2-8-0 beasties early on in the late 1880s - early 1890s.
These utilized on the very steep ( 1 in 33 ; 3% ) grade on the Blue Mountains.
The final exports from Baldwin Lima Hamilton being the 20 2-8-2 Mikados arriving from 1952 into NSW.
A couple of these are preserved by hysterical mobs.
Originally exported as oil burners, but the NSW converted them to coal as we did not have generic oil supply and have swags of black diamonds lurking under the top soil.
Gotta luv that Baldwin tugboat whistle, sends shivers up the spine during nite time.
Our Mexican mob imported two dainty 2 foot 6 inch gauge 2-6-2 side tankers from Baldwin in 1898.
A number subsequently built down under by VR for the then two foot six inch rural branches.
CHARMING is the only expletive necessary for these home brand baby Baldwins.
2022 here has not kicked off in any joyous way.
Just hafta keep the fingers crossed that things improve and this plague finally goes away.
Steve.